An Encouragement Towards Good Hygiene

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaymeen

Question: The listener, whose initials are م ك س from Dammaam says: What is the extent of the authenticity of these two Hadeeths; for we have heard many of the people saying that they have been reported from Mustafaa ﷺ:

النظافة من الإيمان

Cleanliness is from Eemaan.

The other Hadeeth is:

من أخذ الأجرة حاسبه الله بالعمل

He who takes a wage Allaah has recompensed him for the work.

I would like clarity regarding the extent of the authenticity of these two Hadeeths.

Answer: All the praise is for Allaah, the Lord of all that exists. I send prayers and peace upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his family and companions, altogether.  As for the second Hadeeth, I do not know of a basis for it. If the person does not know of a basis for a Hadeeth from the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ then it is not permissible to ascribe it to him until one is certain. 

As for the first: “Cleanliness is from Eemaan,” this Hadeeth is weak. It is not authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ although it is famous amongst the people. 

However, without doubt, the religion of Islaam commands with everything which contains good and benefit for the person; and from that is cleanliness. Indeed cleanliness in one’s body, clothing, and home is from the praiseworthy affairs in terms of custom which does not contradict the legislation. Whatever is praiseworthy by way of custom and does not contradict the legislation then it is from the affairs which are desirable which are befitting for the person to be described with. Rather, the Prophet, upon him be prayers and peace, said regarding the day of Jumu’ah:

لو تطهرتم ليومكم هذا

You should purify yourselves for this day of yours.

Performing Ghusl of Friday, without doubt, is a type of cleanliness. This is because there occurs on Jumu’ah the gathering of many people in one place. There occurs from sweat that which perhaps has a foul odor. Especially during the summer days, and before the advent of these air conditioners which ward off the intensity of the heat. 

At any rate, cleanliness is a praiseworthy affair, legislatively and by way of custom. As for the ascription of this Hadeeth to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, it is a weak Hadeeth and should not be ascribed to Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ.

Translated by Raha ibn Donald Batts

Source: Silsilah Fataawaa Noor ‘Alaa Ad-Darb Tape 214